Removable chute for a hopper

ABSTRACT

An inflatable member in the form of a synthetic or rubber annulus for application to the lower end of a hopper, providing a tight connection between the hopper and a receiving vessel below it.

United States Patent Mahaney 1 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] REMOVABLE CHUTE FOR A HOPPER 2,832,378 4/1958 Beavon ..l41/287 72] Inventor: Joseph Francis Mahaney, Chickering FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Spence" Mass 01562 1,171,994 10/1958 France ..141/312 [22] Filed: Feb. 6, 1970 Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheri-clan [211 App! 9226 AttorneyCharles R. Fay

52 us. c1. ..214/44 R, 141/312, 193/4 [571 ABSTRACT 1 Int. An inflatable member in the form ofa synthetic or rubber an- Field 0 arc 44 17 nulus for application to the lower end of a hopper, providing a 141/312, 368-371, 28 7; 193/4 tight connection between the hopper and a receiving vessel below it. 56 R f C't d l e erences I e 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 3 2,393,932 1/1946 Petroe PATENTED-mza I972 INVENTOR. JOSEPH FRANCIS MAHANEY REMOVABLE CHUTE FOR A HOPPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the unloading of discrete articles, there is often a problem of providing a tight connection between the lower end of a hopper out of which the material falls by gravity, with respect to a receiving container therebelow, and particularly in the transfer of powdery material the same will escape polluting the adjacent atmosphere and causing loss of material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a very simple solution to the problem which comprises the use of an inflatable annulus of suitable size which may in effect rest upon the rim of the receiving container and then be inflated to tightly engage against the lower rim of the hopper so that the latter when open will discharge material through the inflatable annulus as a chute and at the same time provide a tight seal between the lower edge of the hopper and the upper edge of the container.

In addition it has been found that in some instances it is advisable to place a more rigid member such as an apertured sheet of plywood between the inflatable annulus and the lower edge of the hopper to prevent bulging of the inflatable annulus when a very tight seal is desired.

In any event the inside wall of the annulus forms the chute and thus does away with more expensive and cumbersome attempts in the prior art to solve this problem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in elevation illustrating the invention in use;

FIG. 2 is a section on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 on a greatly enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is an edge view looking in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 2, parts being in section; and

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 ofFIG. l.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In FIG. 1 a vehicle e.g., a railroad car is indicated at 10. This car is on tracks 12 as usual and it is for the purpose of carrying discrete and powdery materials, e.g., raw cement. These cars are provided with hoppers which are well known in the art, the same being generally indicated at 14, as a part of the equipment of the car; and these are provided with slidable closures also well known in the art as shown at 16. In FIG. 1 this closure 16 is shown as open so that the lower edge portion of hopper 14 which is indicated at 18, see particularly FIG. 2, is fully open, and the material to be discharged falls by gravity into an underground container indicated at 20, the same having a takeoff device such as for instance a screw 22 to move the material to a silo or the like.

As thus far described the entire mechanism is old and well known and it is not believed that it is necessary to go into particular detail with reference to the parts thereof, with the exception of the fact that it is to be noted that the lower end or discharge portion 18 of the hopper is well above the level of the tracks 12. It will be appreciated that there has to be clearance between the bottom of the hopper and the railroad tracks.

The invention in this case provides a large inflatable resilient annulus generally indicated at 24 and as a practical matter of fact this can be a tube from a truck tire made from synthetic or plastic material, having an inflating valve 25 for inflating the same in the usual manner. This is placed in collapsed condition over the container 20 and under the hopper 14 and upon being inflated it then assumes the position shown in FIG. 1, forming a seal between the top edge portion at 26 of container 20 and the lower edge portion 18 ofhopper 14.

The material being unloaded through the hopper is thus received by a sealed-in chute passing from the hopper to the container 20 without the loss of any of the material or pollution of the surrounding atmosphere. When the entire car has been unloaded, it IS on y necessary to deflate the inflatable annulus 24 and remove it from its position whereupon the empty car may be shunted where desired. It is also to be noted that there may be more than one hopper 14 on any particular car or other vehicle. As the car empties, it rises, being mounted on springs as usual, and the inflatable annulus takes up the slack, or can be further inflated, if necessary.

In some instances sheetlike members such as indicated at 28 are provided with appropriate openings as at 30 and are laid upon the inflatable annulus 24 prior to contact with the hopper to provide against bulging of the material of the annulus when a considerable amount of interior pressure is applied thereto. Also in some cases a similar apertured sheetlike member 32 having the aperture 34 as shown in FIG. 3 may be applied with respect to the ground level or the edges of container 20, and for the same purposes. Also as a practical matter a strengthening belt 36 may be placed around the inflatable annulus 24 to I claim:

1. The combination of a hopper having an edged discharge opening for the disposition of material into a container therefrom,

of a separate, removable inflatable annulus of circular section located between the container and the edge portion of the hopper, said annulus being of a size to guide the material from the hopper into the container,

said annulus sealing the edges of the container and hopper,

and being completely free of both the container and the hopper when collapsed.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a peripheral strengthening belt for said inflatable annulus.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a more rigid sheetlike member disposed upon the annulus between the annulus and the edge portion of said hopper, said sheetlike member having a central opening therethrough for the passage of material from the hopper into the interior of the annulus and thence into the container.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a separate sheetlike member disposed between the annulus and the edge of the container, said sheetlike member being apertured for the passage of material therethrough and through the annulus from the hopper to the container.

5. The combination of claim 1 including a more rigid sheetlike member disposed upon the annulus between the annulus and the edge portion of said hopper, said sheetlike member having central opening therethrough fior the passage of material from the hopper into the interior oli the annulus and thence into the container, both the sheetlike member, and the annulus when collapsed, are free and independent of the container and the hopper.

prevent it from blowing out laterally. 

1. The combination of a hopper having an edged discharge opening for the disposition of material into a container therefrom, of a separate, removable inflatable annulus of circular section located between the container and the edge portion of the hopper, said annulus being of a size to guide the material from the hopper into the container, said annulus sealing the edges of the container and hopper, and being completely free of both the container and the hopper when collapsed.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including a peripheral strengthening belt for said inflatable annulus.
 3. The combination of claim 1 including a more rigid sheetlike member disposed upon the annulus between the annulus and the edge portion of said hopper, said sheetlike member having a central opening therethrough for the passage of material from the hopper into the interior of the annulus and thence into the container.
 4. The combination of claim 1 including a separate sheetlike member disposed between the annulus and the edge of the container, said sheetlike member being apertured for the passage of material therethrough and through the annulus from the hopper to the container.
 5. The combination of claim 1 including a more rigid sheetlike member disposed upon the annulus between the annulus and the edge portion of said hopper, said sheetlike member having central opening therethrough for the passage of material from the hopper into the interior of the annulus and thence into the container, both the sheetlike member, and the annulus when collapsed, are free and independent of the container and the hopper. 